His name trended after "Inside the NBA" misreported that he died even when he is still very much alive, many are wondering where is Billy Ray Bates now.
The once popular PBA import also plans to go back to school, specifically in the Argosy College that’s near his apartment, and earn a degree to help him land a decent, full-time job and maybe buy a car or a truck. And Bates hopes to finish his autobiography "Born to Play Basketball" soon that could possibly draw the interest of filmmakers and make a documentary out of his life.
Unfortunately, the life of the 'Black Superman' is still full of struggles and tribulations.
The former Portland Trail Blazer and arguably the best import who played in the PBA, makes a brief return to the spotlight a few years ago when he was featured in an article by L. Jon Wertheim as part of the "Where Are They Now special" of Sports Illustrated magazine’s July 4 issue in 2016.
In that article, Wertheim reported that Bates had lived with his then wife Beverly and two stepdaughters in South Jersey where he had a job of gluing handles on leather briefcases, which paid US$ 7 per hour. Then came the whirlwind comeback in October 2011 and the humbling trip back to the US in January 2013.
"I’m still alive, so there's that," the 60-year-old Bates greeted Wertheim when the two finally reconnected after a long time. Then Bates recalled he's broke and had a short stint in an alcohol rehab center.
"A lot has happened—know what I mean? I made a lot of mistakes, but I keep pressing forward," he added.
Bates now lives alone in a small apartment in Anaheim, California, thanks to the Illumination Foundation that helps Southern Californians to find shelter.
He says he's happy even as he’s still struggling to find a steady job. He’s not completely sober, admitting to drinking on occasion, but Bates asserted he’s turned back from his past life as an alcoholic and drug user.
Bates played his last PBA game on 13 October 1988, sitting on the bench for most of the minutes, managing a meager 16 points as Añejo suffered a defeat against Presto Ice Cream, with a score of 105-122. To make matters worse, the nation was plagued by brownouts that night, shrouding Metro Manila in darkness. As a result, the game was not televised or broadcasted.
Three days later, on 16 October, Tommy Davis) arrived as one of the replacements for Billy Ray Bates and Kevin Gamble in the Open Conference.
Throughout Bates four seasons in the PBA, representing Crispa and Ginebra, he holds the record for the highest average points per game, an astounding 46.2 points across 98 career games.
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